Delta may have cut and run when Southwest and JetBlue entered the Boston-Baltimore market, but the airline is ready to defend its LaGuardia shuttle routes against new low-cost carrier service by cutting historically pricey fares.

Delta has announced walk-up fare cuts of up to 60 percent on flights between New York and Boston and Washington, D.C. According to Travel Weekly (registration required), one-way fares from New York are $129 to Boston and $169 to Washington, D.C. And keep in mind that Delta charges additional fees for booking over the phone or in person.

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Delta's walk-up fares are most useful for business travelers willing to pay more for last-minute flexibility. But travelers looking for the cheapest price should be creative when searching D.C. routes and include Reagan National, Dulles, and Baltimore-Washington airports. The broader search can yield better prices; for instance, Southwest is advertising a fare of $57 each way between LaGuardia and Baltimore, with a 14-day advance purchase and other restrictions.

Delta is sweetening its deal with 2,500 bonus miles for each one-way flight through June 26. But will the deal be sweet enough? Stay tuned.